by Sharon O | Aug 5, 2016 | Uncategorized
As we moved through the pictures and the replica’s they had inside of the museum one can imagine how hard the journey was for them. When some of their loved ones died.
They had to bury them and move on.
There was no time for intensive grief life was harsh and they had to meet the goal before the weather changed and the months worsen for them on the journey.
How did they have fresh food or even water is beyond my imagination because the land was so harsh and treacherous at times. I cannot even imagine… the emptiness they had in their hearts looking for a new ‘fresh place to live.’
The stories are interesting to read how they journeyed by day and perhaps night.
I cannot imagine every night going to sleep with the howling of wolves by my bed.
It must have been a bit ‘unnerving’ for them yet they moved forward every day with a goal in mind to find new land and a new life.
The journey was hot, and many got sick and some even died.
There was often discord among the travelers but there also had to be some in charge.
Then there were others who fought the tired travelers.
Families had to give up much to travel the journey.
Keepsakes, friends, family left behind who didn’t join them on the journey.
It was a great ‘afternoon’ spent learning about the history of the Oregon trail.
I will be sharing more in the next few ‘posts’… it was just so interesting.
I had a new appreciation for what it took for these people to travel so far.
by Sharon O | Aug 4, 2016 | Uncategorized
The experience in this place was not easy to forget.
First of all one has to drive out of Baker up to a high altitude to see the setting.
The journey through the Oregon trail for those who had to come by wagon trains and horse back had to have been intensely rough.
The roads are rugged, the landscape harsh. The water not easy to find.
The goal was to get to Oregon. It was a monumental task for all involved.
There was death, and loss and heavy intensive struggles and I couldn’t imagine going that far with no fresh food, no water, no bathrooms or showers.
We are spoiled in the sense of those thoughts. It was a journey for sure that took many months and many hardships for them.
There were two parts of the story. The white man’s part and the American Indians part. I was struck with the Indian history mostly because we met them on their lands.
It was a fiercely fought war and many died. It was hard for me to understand.
So much death and so much at stake and for so little, back then.
The landscape is so barren and so hot and full of sage brush and empty territory.
One had to have an imagination why, they traveled to come this way to the Oregon trail, from many states away ending up in Oregon City, Oregon.
The day was cooler for us and it gave me a ‘thought’ of how this must have been for the many who were traveling by wagon train and by foot.
The museum is well worth one’s time spent, we went in not knowing what to expect and came out close to 5 hours later fully aware of the hardships of the people.
So beautiful, so barren, so empty of life.
So much filled the hearts of those who were traveling for a better land and a better life, with so much hope, so much sadness all filled in one trip.
If you wish to read more on the topic, I am sure any local library or even online searching would tell you much more of the journey of the Oregon Trail.
by Sharon O | Aug 3, 2016 | Uncategorized
We stayed in Union Creek campground from Saturday the 16th of July to the 18th of July. We were able to see some fun ‘little critters’ and also journey around the area without our trailer with us. Larry got some really cute pictures of this little squirrel.
At night Sharon and I were sitting at the camp ground and we had a ‘osprey’ fly over our heads. He was actually a bit scary, he was so close to us.
We thought it was an owl or even maybe a bat but it was an osprey and it was hunting from the waters edge.
The next day we were planning on going to the Oregon trail interpretive center in Baker, Oregon. It is the kind of museum we all loved seeing and we were excited to spend some time in it before our trip actually began.
I didn’t know what to expect. Sometimes museums are a bit boring for me, I like history but it also has to have interesting scenes or pictures and a reality I can grab a hold of emotionally. I was hoping not to be disappointed.
by Sharon O | Aug 2, 2016 | Uncategorized
We had planned for many months and tried to think of the many ways we could go on this trip. My husband and his sister did most of the planning and we also wanted to leave a little bit of room for change or play. It ended up being a 2,840 mile trip.
We saw many lovely barren landscapes. Many points of interest and even a few mountain goats and cows in our road. It was a hot season, next time we might try for a cooler month, it was also buggy at times. Again a different season would help.
We began in Oregon and then moved forward to Idaho then even moved forward to Montana and then back to Idaho and then back to Oregon.
It was a lot of driving, some playing and some sleeping.
When we went down the ‘The gorge’ as they call it in Oregon.
We saw a lot of wind turbines, they are pretty awesome I think.
Large and not too obnoxious in looks.
Some people feel they ruin the beauty of the landscape but I can think of much worse things to look at.
Our first night we were heading to Union Creek campground in Baker, County.
It was the beginning of many long stays ahead of us.
We had our trailer, the other part of our team had a tent, and with both guys driving we managed to cover many miles.
The adventure continued for two more weeks.
Our trailer has a built in awning with a light inside. At night we would turn the soft light on and then have a campfire and it set up the rest of the ending of our day … till the next one began.
by Sharon O | Aug 1, 2016 | Uncategorized
We left for a two week vacation.
It was hot, very hot, but we had a safe drive and a good time.
I took lot’s of pictures, along with my husband. For the next few weeks I will be sharing them, so stay tuned.
It is a lot of filtering through the ‘most’ shareable ones and then writing about where we were at the time. I really hope I don’t lose your interest.
We started in Oregon then moved from there to Idaho then into Montana and then back home again. The weather was mostly in the 90’s with some relief at night. We were in our trailer and my husbands sister and her husband were in a tent.
We have many adventure stories to tell and many ‘good sights’ to share.
We named our ‘old black car’ Gibbs and the trailer Gabby.
Two reasons, we like the name Gibbs and I kept chatting to my husband while he was trying to drive in unknown territory.
So the name is a for sure thing.
by Sharon O | Jun 29, 2016 | Uncategorized
During one of our ‘travel days’ while we were staying in Florence we drove to a place known as Shore Acres.
It is beautiful to visit and take pictures and hike around. There is a trail that leads down to a very private beach.
We went there a few years ago and really wanted to go back and see it again.
This visit brought more tourist visitors, we were not sure why since it was in the middle of the week.
We were anticipating less people but it wasn’t bad, maybe a dozen were on the beach the same time we were.
The grounds around Shore acres have water falls, and beautiful flowers planted like a English garden.
Very beautiful.
When walking around the grounds you will notice there are a variety of roses, dahlia’s, perennial plants, all surrounded by carefully cut box woods.
It is a beautiful site to see and I have heard that at Christmas time it is even MORE outstanding.
On one side of the gardens there is a gate that leads down the path to the beach.
I loved the many picture taking opportunities it gave us as we went down the trail.
They have stairs that are pretty easy to navigate.
I always look for blog pictures and see if they can help tell a story or two.
As you walk the path if you listen really close you can hear ‘wild’ sea lions barking like a pack of dogs.
There is a place alongside the mountain you can climb while on an over look to see and experience them in the natural habitat.
We did that last time we were there, but this time neither one of us wanted to walk the uneven trail.
The beach is so pretty. The mountainside so rugged.
The beach has a drop off I have not walked out to it but it is there, I am sure of it.
Where the beach is higher than the water.
We want to go back when we can see the Christmas lighting and all the festivities in the park.
We have heard it is amazing and beautiful with thousands of lights and decorations surrounding the grounds.
Perhaps next year I can post some ‘holiday lights’ to show you the beauty of this wonderful place.
by Sharon O | Jun 22, 2016 | Uncategorized
In our trip down in Florence we were able to go sight seeing a bit.
Hubby is still recovering from his knee replacement, almost 11 weeks but still learning how to manage it.
I am dealing with a few new health issues so our hiking walking days are minimal at this time.
We did manage to do a bit of sight seeing. I love to look at watch clouds. They are fun for me.
Guessing what could they be or what do I see. I guess the child in me still loves it.
It is a very fun adventure for me and it is also a way for me to remember how grand and glorious OUR God is to make such beauty.
We discovered a path that went pretty high and my hubby said ‘let’s go find the ocean.’
I was not sure since we are not hikers in sand and it looked like a new adventure for us.
It looked like a lot of climbing to me. In sand which is way more difficult going UP. I was right because about half way up I was clinging to the grass for stability.
Both of us did it and we found ourselves pretty tired when we got done, going down was a lot easier than going up that was for sure, although going down you gain more speed.
I found myself digging my heels into the sand as I stepped in it to not lose my balance.
While we were UP a young ’20 something guy’ came walking up the trail as if it was smooth walking. Yeah NOT us. We told him he made it look really easy.
Hubby couldn’t figure out why he was so sore the next day and I went to bed that night at 9:20 totally exhausted.
Us old folks just can’t do the hard hiking right now.
The view when up on the high side of the hill was amazing. But we were done looking and all things had to come to and end, we needed to go back to our car.
The adventure continued and we planned on a new one the next day or later that evening, whichever we felt like on this ‘journey away from home’.
We do really enjoy the time together and our ‘long term’ vacation called ‘retirement.’
by Sharon O | Jun 21, 2016 | Uncategorized
After our adventure to Winema beach we came home for a short time then left again to the coast again.
Only this time we headed to a town on the southern Oregon coast line called Florence.
It was a port that is used mostly for fishing but there are also dunes there where people ride dune buggies.
We found it to be very strange when we saw large sand dunes right behind the local Fred Meyer store.
So much for beach life, very different from our ‘scenes in the valley.’
Our drive down was fun as the clouds were very dark and even rainy. Making a very good ‘picture taking’ opportunity for me.
I always anticipate the drive with joy and a bit of anxiety as I know traffic can create issues and especially with a trailer behind our expedition.
We followed hwy 101 all the way down the southern coast, with it’s windy roads and scenic views.
It really was a nice drive although it took us about five hours from our house to our campsite.
We had many bridges as we drove I think it must have been close to six and they varied in size some short and some longer.
The water was all around us on some occasions and we just had to keep driving till ‘solid ground’ reappeared.
We arrived at Port of Suislaw in the heart of downtown Florence and set up our camp. We would spend the next three days there exploring.
After getting settled I took a final picture of us, on our couch watching a bit of night TV before the evening got dark.
The view from our trailer on the outside near where we sat in our chairs, and then the view from the inside of the trailer.
Our home away from home is very cozy and we are really enjoying our time away.
Each time it is easier to leave and each time the ‘cats’ realize we will return.
Stay tuned as I share more of our ‘summer adventures.’
by Sharon O | Jun 20, 2016 | Uncategorized
The first trip we did out in our new ‘home away from home’, was at the beach. Our favorite place to go is a place called Winema.
It is a Christian camp and it has such quiet and beauty most of the time when campers are not there.
We happened to get there between activities and the weekend so it was pretty quiet and nice.
Our trailer is very comfortable and we enjoy going
out as much as possible now that we are fully retired.
The view from our trailer looking out from the campsite heading towards the beach.
It is a quiet pathway, not too rough of a walk and over the ridge is the ocean.
There are a few a memorial benches where one can sit and enjoy the oceans beauty if you don’t have your own chair.
We can sit there for a long time just watching the waves, and feeling the fresh air on our faces.
Sometimes we see birds and boats and other activities like kite flying or kids playing.
The beach is not private but the camp is.
Way on top of the hill next to the main driveway to the camp are the crosses I love to look at. Have always told my husband should I leave this world before him I want to be placed up there. I don’t like heights but it is a perfect place of peace and freedom.
The view from the beach side, high up on a hill are the crosses.
The view from the high perspective looking down.
The view of the camp to the left, and the bay outlet where one can use a kayak or canoe. 
It will always be our ‘favorite place’. Quiet and peaceful and most of the time very few people.
by Sharon O | Jun 19, 2016 | Uncategorized
We have been testing our cats out when we leave for a few days then return.
Always having someone coming in to feed them and make sure the water is still bubbling.
They have a continuous fountain. It was the best thing I ever purchased as it gives them fresh water and I don’t have to worry about it.
We purchased a 2017 travel trailer and for the last few weeks we have been taking it out and enjoying it.
Part of that purchase was a ‘new to us’ Ford Expedition to pull it with.
God blessed us with a great deal. The trailer is really nice, a 19 foot with a murphy bed and a table. Nice shower bathroom area and when the bed is in the wall a couch appears.
So we really are very comfortable in it when we go out.
We love the colors and it has a decent size shower and a nice ‘little kitchen with a table’ where we eat our meals if we are not outside.
It has been a relaxing place for us, a retirement gift for my husband who loves to go and I like to stay.
It has been a nice compromise for us. We are trying out short outings to see how our ‘inside’ cats do.
Originally we thought it would be fun to take them with us, but now we are realizing it might be more worrisome.
They don’t go outside and they might not be relaxed out of their normal familiar home life.
We are hoping to go out more in our vacation home on wheels. With our ‘furry children’ taken care of we can leave.
Off into the sunset we go, in our home away from home.
